Taler bora, Sweet palm fritters and childhood memories

This post is about sweet palm fritter (Taler bora in Bengali) and childhood memories associated with every Bengali people. Taal or palm fruit is a seasonal fruit and most followers of Lord Krishna offer taler bora to the God on the day of Janmashtami (Birthday of Lord Krishna). It is one of the most important festivals for Vaishnavas.

What is (taler bora in Bengali) palm fritter?

Those people who are clueless about taal er bora and they are thinking that palm fritter is something like a snack or a regular fried food then I must say that they are wrong. Sweet palm fritter is a very special seasonal dessert item and most Bengali love this since their childhood.

Taler bora in West Bengal, Janmastami & childhood

From the first day of Jhulan yatra to Janmashtami, each day is special for a Bengali Hindu kid because they decorate their miniature dreamland (miniature playground, jungle, ponds, lakes, fighters on the hill, wild animals etc) and display a very special decorated swing of Lord Krishna & Radha. Kids flaunt their decoration to their friends, family members and relatives.

All kids during those days wait till the day of Janmashtami when many guests will come to their home. The most special taler bora (what will be cooked first time in that season) will be offered to Lord Krishna & Radha as Bhog/Prasada. Kids will play with their friends, everybody will be happy, they will sing and will do a lot of fun activities. Everybody will eat bhog/prasad as lunch/dinner for the day and taler bora will be a significant item in the food menu.

Tastiest taler bora competition

Not only that, school going kids will bring taal er bora (sweet palm fritter) for their tiffin for the next day. My childhood was not different and I used to notice that after the day of Janmashtami most children used to bring taal er bora for their tiffin. They share it with others too. Sometimes there is competition among the kids for tastiest one, haha. Did you ever participate in such competition when you are in school? We were even not allowed to eat plenty of bora because it is a fried stuff. In my childhood, it was also fun in stealing that bora from kitchen throughout the next two or three days.

But I think today’s kids usually do not experience such a thing. They do not decorate miniature dreamland on the day of Jhulan Yatra. Nowadays only a few house owners invite guests on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Heat refined oil in a kadai/cooking pot and by using your hand add 1.5-2 cm diameter size ball made with that mixture

Cook those small balls till outer portion turns to light brown color

Serve these taler boras hot or cold

Notes

To get the palm pulp, you need to remove its skin, then rub its seeds on a strainer and collect all pulp in a large bowl

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This is an awesome taler bora recipe in Bengali style what is followed at my home since years. Did you ever try such taler bora in West Bengal in your last visit in the state? If not then you can visit West Bengal on the occasion of Janmastami because that time you can have taler bora from many local sweet shop.